Here, I take a look at some we could be seeing in F1 paddocks within the next few years, whilst assessing the progress of some drivers I have tipped for success in the past two years.
Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium, 21)
With Robin Frijns proving last year that it's more than possible to make a big impact in your first year of Formula Renault 3.5, expectations were high for Vandoorne - the Dutchman's successor as Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion.
Vandoorne wasted no time in living up to such expectations, taking victory during his maiden outing in the 3.5 class at Monza for his Fortec team. Since then, the young Belgian has chalked up an additional three wins, including a dominant double at Moscow Raceway, and has proven the closest challenger to series leader Kevin Magnussen.
Vandoorne was picked up by McLaren to join their junior scheme early in the year, incidentally putting him in the same fold as title rival Magnussen. With the Danish driver set to graduate to F1 next year, Vandoorne will no doubt start next season as red-hot favourite to win the Formula Renault 3.5 title (assuming, of course, he doesn't do so this year).
With the financial might of McLaren behind him, there's no reason to think why Vandoorne couldn't, in time, become the first Belgian to take a Grand Prix victory since Thierry Boutsen in 1990.
Sergey Sirotkin (Russia, 17)
Sirotkin has been in the headlines recently, and, to most, having the teenage Russian in a race seat next year is the price the Sauber team must pay to remain afloat. But, such a viewpoint does an enormous disservice to a driver who has achieved a lot in his short career so far.
By the time of his 18th birthday, Sebastian Vettel was Formula BMW champion and had achieved three fifth places in F3 Euroseries. By the same stage, Fernando Alonso, in his first season of car racing, had taken a couple of race victories in the Euro Open by Nissan series, whilst Lewis Hamilton had placed third in British Formula Renault.
Compared with the above, the record of Sirotkin, who turns 18 later this month, stacks up well: so far, he is Formula Abarth champion, a race winner and regular podium finisher in Auto GP, and, as of this year, a podium finisher and regular points-scorer in Formula Renault 3.5.
Admittedly, an F1 race seat would probably be too much, too soon for Sirotkin, particularly in an age with severely limited testing. But, if he is thrust inside a Sauber cockpit next year, Sirotkin has the potential to make a success of his situation and could be just the man to ignite Russian interest in the sport.
Tio Ellinas (Cyprus, 21)
It's been tough to pick a stand-out driver from the GP3 Series this year, with the top seven drivers in the standings separated by just 31 points. But, top of the pile for now is Ellinas, who is on track to become F1's first ever Cypriot driver.
Ellinas has gone from being impressive debutant in GP3 last year to being a major threat for the title this year for the Marussia team. Consistency has been key to his challenge, being one of only two drivers (the other is reigning British F3 champion Jack Harvey) to have scored in eight out of the ten races so far.
Ellinas has undertaken straight-line work behind the wheel of the Marussia's F1 car, as well as having taken part in the Silverstone Young Driver Test for Marussia. Team principal John Booth was said to be impressed with the way Ellinas handled the enormous step up in performance from his usual machinery.
A step up to GP2 is the next logical step for the Cypriot, along with some more track time on Fridays with Marussia. If he continues to perform, the chance of an F1 race seat will surely loom on the horizon.
Daniil Kvyat (Russia, 19)
The latest product of the conveyor belt of talent that is the Red Bull junior scheme, Kvyat has measured well against his Arden teammate and fellow Red Bull-backed driver Carlos Sainz Jr. so far this season in GP3.
Stepping up from Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, where he was pipped to the title by Vandoorne, Kvyat has been a regular points-scorer in GP3, taking his first podium last time out at Hungary. With three rounds still to go, there's every chance that the Russian could eclipse Sainz Jr. before the year is out.
Kvyat has also impressed in his F3 outings this season, having taken four pole positions and as many podiums in his appearances for the Carlin team. In fact, had he been eligible for points, he would be comfortably inside the championship top ten.
Kvyat made his bow in F1 machinery with the Toro Rosso team at the Silverstone Young Driver Test, and given his Red Bull links, a drive with the Faenza-based team will be just the thing upon which the Russian has his sights firmly set in years to come after gaining more experience in the lower formulae.
Felix Rosenqvist (Sweden, 21)
It may be Rosenqvist's fourth season at Formula 3 level, but there is still something to be said for taking one's time moving up the rungs of the single-seater ladder. In particular, F3 has proven to be a reliable indicator of a driver's potential in the past, which bodes well indeed for the Swedish driver.
Indeed, Rosenqvist has now emerged as a real championship contender in the FIA-backed European F3 series. A superb run of recent form, including a hat-trick of victories at the Red Bull Ring, has brought him within touching distance of points leader Raffaele Marciello.
After finishing runner-up to Antonio Felix da Costa at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix last year, Rosenqvist also managed to notch up a second win in the blue-riband Masters of F3 event last month - emulating the feat of a certain Williams F1 driver Valtteri Bottas - for his Mucke Motorsport team.
The extent of his F3 experience should make Rosenqvist better placed to tackle the rigours of either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 than many of his rivals. If he can continue to deliver the results, interest from one or more F1 teams will surely follow.
Lucas Auer (Austria, 18)
With the Red Bull Ring set to return to the F1 calendar next year, the Austrian fans are going to need a new home hero for whom to cheer. Who better to fill such a role than the nephew of Gerhard Berger, the last Austrian to win a Grand Prix back in 1997?
Enter Lucas Auer, who in just his third season of car racing has made quite an impact in the FIA European F3 series - he has been one of the championship's front-runners this season, racking up a maiden win at Brands Hatch (albeit after on-track victor Marciello was disqualified) and five other podium finishes.
Auer finds himself battling with Prema teammate and fellow European F3 rookie Alex Lynn, who has moved across from the British series, for 'best of the rest' honours behind Marciello and Rosenqvist.
A full title challenge in the series likely beckons for Auer before a step up to a more senior category. And, it's worth noting that having 'Uncle Gerhard' as President of the FIA's single-seater commission can hardly hinder matters as the young Austrian seeks a path to F1...
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Of the drivers highlighted in my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, Esteban Gutierrez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Charles Pic and Jules Bianchi have all made it to Formula One. Read on for a summary of how the others are currently faring...
Felipe Nasr - running second in the GP2 standings for Carlin having scored in every round bar one; his Brazilian sponsors give him a good chance of joining the F1 grid next year regardless of whether or not he comes out on top in his title battle with series veterans Stefano Coletti and Fabio Leimer.
Alexander Rossi - in his debut season of GP2 with the Caterham team, for whom he has participated in Friday Practice at the Canadian Grand Prix this year. A race seat with the Leafield-based team is a possibility for the Californian, either for next year or the year after, if he continues to impress.
Mitch Evans - currently the highest-placed rookie in the GP2 standings, the Kiwi driver has taken four podiums (including two at Monaco) for the Arden team so far and will be looking to fight for the championship next year before making the step up to F1 with the help of mentor Mark Webber.
Robin Frijns - has impressed in a series of GP2 outings this season for the Hilmer Motorsport team, particularly at Catalunya where he won the feature race and came second in the sprint. A lack of funds has nevertheless curtailed his season, and despite driving for Sauber during the Silverstone Young Driver Test, the prospects of him landing an F1 seat now appear slim.
Kevin Magnussen - leading the Formula Renault 3.5 series for the DAMS team, having taken two wins and a further six podium finishes. It seems likely that the McLaren junior will appear on the F1 grid next season, possibly at Marussia, having tested for the Woking team at Silverstone.
Antonio Felix da Costa - has failed to live up to his billing as pre-season favourite in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, but fifth in the standings for Arden isn't a fair reflection of the speed he has shown. Red Bull links means he remains favourite to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso next year if a vacancy emerges.
Carlos Sainz Jr. - one of eight or nine drivers still in with a chance of title glory in GP3, having scored two podium finishes so far for Arden. Tested for Toro Rosso at Silverstone but is still a few years away from being ready for a race seat, even by his own admission.
Raffaele Marciello - has seen his championship lead in FIA European F3 narrowed considerably by Rosenqvist in recent races, but his Ferrari backing should see him in either GP2 or Formula Renault 3.5 next year; an F1 test can surely only be a matter of time.
Felix Serralles - has been a regular points scorer in European F3, but is still suffering the after-effects of a crash last season in the British series. Pending a return to full fitness, the Puerto Rican will be eyeing the Euro F3 title next season.
To read my previous 'Ones to Watch' articles, click here (2011) and here (2012).
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